Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse has referred to the many programmes launched by the Defense Ministry on behalf of the welfare of war heroes and their families. He said they are providing these scholarships to children of members of the Armed Forces and the Police killed, disappeared or disabled in action.
It is the duty of the Defense Ministry to help these children to reach a high standard in society without forgetting the services of their parents. Granting of scholarships is one such programme. The Defence Secretary emphasized that they will not terminate their assistance but, will continue to help the children to reach a high standard.
Mr. Rajapakse said they were able to remind the society through the “Api Wenuwen Api” concept that war heroes are their brothers and children. He was speaking at a ceremony organized to award scholarships to children of Ranaviru families who succeeded in the 2006 Year Five Scholarship examination. The Defence Ministry handed over 25,000 rupees each to 50 children from the National Defence Fund. This scholarship programme will be continuously implemented. Chief of Defence staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Army Commander Lt.Gen. Sarath Fonseka, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Chief Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilake and IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne were among the large gathering present.
(Courtesy : ITN Sri Lanka )